AfriPart has claimed its stake as South Africa’s first automotive aftermarket distributor that is 100% owned and operated via an empowered employee trust, born out of an enterprise development initiative.

As a level-2 B-BBEE contributor, the company has the vision to become a level-one vehicle. AfriPart is currently distributing automotive parts and components into channels including automotive, commercial, mining, construction and agriculture through wholesalers, retailers, workshops and fitment centres.

AfriPart managing director, Andrew Sommerville, said, “AfriPart is effectively an employee trust with the vision of securing a significant national footprint within the automotive aftermarket distribution sector. The use of technology will allow AfriPart to rapidly expand via elevated service and delivery mechanisms that will ultimately revolutionise the market. Our online ordering system, www.afripart.co.za is on a par if not better than any other South African distributor’s online service.”

“AfriPart has, over the past three years, provided an effective and alternative distribution vehicle for many automotive aftermarket brands and distributes a range of automotive brands such as Echlin, Unipoint, Mobiletron, Textar, Acsa Mag, SKF, VDO and Permatex.”

“There is an opportunity with these well-known brands that the current wholesale distribution channels are not effectively carrying or distributing. The opportunity lies with the strength of the brands coupled with propriety online technology that will allow efficient, cost-effective distribution and delivery. AfriPart has a national footprint and is rapidly expanding into all major centres and selected regional outlying areas,” said Mr Sommerville.

Richard Berner, head of sales and marketing at AfriPart, added: “Our online free technical portal adds value to aftermarket distributors by offering a fast and secure online catalogue and ordering platform to source, procure and supply parts. There are numerous features that assist with product search, order generation, track and trace, as well as saving regularly ordered parts.

“It also provides an account status and overview, downloadable invoices, proof of delivery and a full order track and trace facility. AfriPart Online also allows trade users to enter their entire order and the system will automatically place, process and release their order with free delivery, making it a true one-stop online parts trade partner.”

“AfriPart Online also gives the option to track and trace orders, and reprint invoices and delivery notes when and where required. Another benefit is the ease of AfriPart Online’s dynamic search functionality in locating and identifying required parts. Easily identifiable product categories guide users to refine their search to those parts required or to simply locate parts by part number, vehicle application or cross reference. An intelligent keyword search will streamline the way users order parts. AfriPart Online also gives real-time pricing and stock availability and we are continually updating our parts catalogue and user interface to meet the trade’s ever changing expectations of our 12 000-strong parts categories.